Page 44 of Allure

I hurry over to my car, unlock it, and rip it open, only to realize Declan has followed me over to my car.

I duck my head down. I don’t need more shit from him, especially now. I hadn’t even realized it, but I’m doing my best not to cry, not to fall apart.

After a few deep breaths, I finally look up at him. “Why the hell are you even here?”

“I intern here.”

“You intern here?” I can’t believe it.

“Yes, with my dad.”

“Oh, great. Right. Nepotism at its best.”

He grimaces. “Why are you here?”

“I came for no good reason. A waste of my time.”

“To report the mugging. You hadn’t before.”

"No, I hadn't, but apparently, the police won't believe you unless you tell them immediately."

“That’s not how it’s supposed to go,” he mutters.

“Yeah, well, maybe there’s been. Murder or something because an armed mugger who is attacking over the course of multiple days isn’t that big of a deal. What if I saw something that other woman hadn’t seen? Why not just hear me out? But whatever. It’s fine. I’ll just be going—”

"Brooke, I'll talk to my dad and get him to talk to whoever is on the mugging case."

There he is again, that other, softer side of Declan. He’s like Jekyll and Hyde, and honestly, I almost would rather him continue to be an ass right now because I don’t think I can handle much more of this shit. Compassion just might be enough to break me.

But pity? Fuck pity.

Shit. I stare into his eyes, hoping to see that hated emotion, the one everyone had after my father died, but instead, I just see concern.

He’s really worried about me.

But doesn’t he hate me? I thought that was mutual. Not that I started the shit between us. Of course, I couldn’t let sleeping dogs rest, so I did talk back to him, mouthing off every chance I got, but who can blame me?

But his being decent to me isn’t the norm.

I shake my head, not wanting to admit to myself that I should accept his help. “Do you get your rocks off on being an ass and a bully all of the time?” I demand.

“Look, I’m sure that’s what you think—”

“No, that’s exactly how you acted toward me.”

“He makes a face. “I don’t like to waste my time,” he mumbles.

“Waste your time? How am I wasting your—Karate. You think I won’t stick with it. You don’t want to bother to train people who are just going to turn around and quit.”

“Yes. So many people don’t understand or realize that martial arts is a way of life. You constantly better yourself. It’s not over when your reach your black belt. There’s always more.”

“Some people don’t understand that martial arts is a way of life. You mean women, don’t you?”

Declan rolls his eyes. “You’re so fucking unreal. I’m here to try to help you, to tell you that I’ll find a way for the detective on the case to contact you and get your eyewitness account of your attack, but all you want to do is attack me?”

“What about that guy in his sixties?” I blurt out.

“So you’re sexist and ageist,” he says. “Good to know.”

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